Hill looks forward to new era

Lewis Hill said that the players are ready for the new era at Leicestershire County Cricket Club under Chief Executive Wasim Khan MBE and Head Coach Andrew McDonald.

The 24-year-old is impressed by how Wasim has changed the atmosphere at the club and recalls the impact that McDonald had at Grace Road in his time as a player.

Hill said: “Wasim Khan has come in (as Chief Executive) and everybody has had their spirits lifted throughout the club. From a playing perspective, we are now focused on how we are going to win as opposed to how we are going to avoid defeat.

“I was on the Academy when Andrew (McDonald) was here and in the chance I got to spend with him, such as being twelfth man for the first team, he spoke very well.

“Every single player has had an individual Skype session with him recently. Andrew is very focused, he knows exactly what has been happening here over the last two years and is very clued up on everything.

“He will bring some inner steel to us and we are all massively looking forward to working with him. Andrew will give us a lot of belief going into the season.

“We have shown this winter that we have a good spirit. Everybody wants to win and is rowing in the same direction. We all want to win games for Leicestershire and are prepared to work very hard for each other.”

Hill thinks that the squad has a better balance for the forthcoming season with experienced players such as Clint McKay supplementing the young talent at Grace Road. The ‘keeper/batsman can relate to the impact of an overseas opening bowler from his club career with Lutterworth.

“With some experienced players around, we feel that we are in for a good season,” said Hill. “The younger guys haven’t always had a lot of experience around them but the blend this year will be fantastic and there will be more freedom for the younger players in a good environment to work in.

“Clint McKay will be a big signing for us and an example of the effect an overseas player can have from my club side Lutterworth. About three years ago we won the league from nowhere and our overseas player triggered that.

“When we knew that he was opening the bowling, everybody gained about 10-15% of confidence and raised their game. I can see the same thing happening with Clint.

“I think the focus on winning games is better than worrying too much about the opposition. We will give them respect but I think it’s better for us to have a mentality of ‘we have players in good form and we can beat these today.’

“It’s a shift in the mindset for us all. I firmly believe that the players we have got here will ensure that we have a fantastic year.”